What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?.

But this time, it was the first time in so many years that they stopped short of a full discussion.

This surprised Zanze. Although he felt embarrassed by being overdone, he also felt a sense of loss at being neglected.

This made her slightly raise her head, looking at Ash with those clear eyes, her face seemingly still a little confused, and with a different kind of emotion: "Lord Ash?"

"what happened?"

"...Are you really alright?"

"...Why am I being doubted even though I haven't done anything? Can't I really turn over a new leaf and become as great as you say?"

"No... it's just that... no matter what your identity is, in my heart, you will always be someone I can follow and respect. The image of a god... doesn't actually need to be deliberately presented. You just need to be yourself."

Zanze carefully considered his words, his expression remaining unchanged, without any extra fluctuations, and his tone was generally quite calm.

Is this child testing me? Or deliberately tempting me to make a mistake? But... I don't understand! It's been like this ever since we met! I completely don't understand this child's thoughts~~! —Zanze's emotionless words made Ash feel a little like scratching his head.

But compared to his distress, Zanze in front of him simply stared at him blankly like a puppet, with the same attitude as always.

It seemed calm, yet it carried a strange sense of tolerance and gentleness... It was very strange, at least Ash felt very strange, and even couldn't help but slump onto the table in frustration: "...Why do I feel like the junior instead?"

"Because Ash-sama, like Celie-sama, is often very willful, right?"

"No, I should be much better than Selena."

“Pretty much,” Zanze said without hesitation.

Such a harsh review hurt him, and he couldn't help but feign a wounded expression, letting out a deep sigh:

"Ah... Zanze has really changed. He used to respect me so much, but now he looks down on me."

"...That's not true."

"You never respected me before?!" Ash deliberately misinterpreted her meaning.

"No, I meant I was disgusted..." Zanze frowned slightly, sighing for the umpteenth time since meeting Ash today: "You know perfectly well, why do you always say such hurtful things..."

"Because I'm really worried about being hated by Zanze! If that happens, I definitely won't be able to survive!"

"Stop with these exaggerated words..." Faced with his words, which seemed both genuine and simply teasing, Zanze pursed his lips in embarrassment and lowered his eyes: "Lord Ash is always so willful, completely disregarding my feelings..."

"Is that so? You've definitely confused me with Celia, haven't you?"

"..."

Zanze didn't say anything, or rather, she didn't want to talk about Ash anymore today. She just stared at him silently, making him feel a little uncomfortable.

But Ash found this emotionless loli, who not only had no expression but also frequently fell completely silent, to be even harder to guess than Rine. He often couldn't understand what she was thinking.

...............................

...............................

Across the desk, Ash stared back at Zanze for a while, but he couldn't be sure if she was really angry.

Helpless, he could only silently get up and prepare to leave.

Although he really wanted to pet Zanze, he was told that he was completely disregarding her feelings, so Ash couldn't do anything reckless... because he genuinely didn't want Zanze to dislike him, and he would occasionally worry about teasing her too much. Besides... he had to consider his original purpose for coming here.

Taking all these factors into account, Ash decided to go out and find a substitute... after all, Derodion would come over and let him play with her... no, let him care for her.

In cases where the other party takes the initiative, it can only be considered that you have no choice but to show care for the child, so it doesn't count as breaking the rules, right?

But he had only taken two steps, and hadn't even left the area around the tea table, when his clothes were grabbed.

He turned around and saw that Zanze was also looking up, and he spoke first in a soft voice:

"Are you trying to take advantage of the other person's attack to do the same thing to me to that child?"

"No, what are you saying? I don't understand at all."

This child is terrifying! Has he learned mind-reading magic?! — Ash's lips twitched slightly, and he tried to pull his hand away and run away.

"...After knowing you for so many years, I can probably guess what you're thinking."

"No? Is this all the trust we have? I'm here to save this country! I can't wait to get there..."

"—Then, Lord Ash, could you help me comb my hair?" Before he could finish his high-sounding lines, Zanze suddenly offered a greedy proposal.

"...You're actually using this to tempt cadres?"

"Temptation? No... this is a request?" She simply tilted her head, and Ash felt that his bottom line as a cadre was being challenged.

"Fine...alright! If you insist on asking me, I have no choice but to agree! After all, you're my most beloved junior sister!"

After resisting for more than a second, Ash realized that although bottom lines were important, his junior sister was the same way... And if bottom lines were broken, they could be rebuilt, but his junior sister's enthusiastic invitation, if he missed this opportunity, when would the next one appear?

After a quick weighing of the pros and cons, Ash effortlessly reached out and picked her up, saying, "...I just can't do anything with you!" as he sat down in her previous spot and casually placed her in his lap.

And so, holding the soft, fragrant little girl in his arms, skillfully combing her long hair with his five fingers, he couldn't help but sigh:

"Seriously... if you keep clinging to me like this, what am I going to do in the future?"

"...What will happen next?"

"Yeah, what if I really couldn't resist and took you home?" Ash's fingers ran through Zanze's soft hair, a hint of doting smile playing on his lips.

Zanze, however, squinted slightly, enjoying the comfortable intimacy, but also asked softly, "Lord Ash, is your current behavior... different from what you said?"

"Of course there is! If you don't fight for permission, isn't that 'abduction'? But when I get permission, it's naturally legal and reasonable."

"But... I usually agree to anything Lord Ash asks for?"

"What if I wanted to kiss you?"

“This…” She paused slightly, then quietly tilted her head to look at Ash. Her cat-like eyes reflected the light of the crystal chandelier, and there was an almost imperceptible shyness in them. Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.

"If...you don't do anything strange, is that alright...?"

"...Really?! Then..."

Those rosy cheeks and slightly pouting lips looked so alluring that Ash, after receiving this affirmation, inadvertently forgot the determination he had made earlier and lowered his head as if possessed.

While savoring the fragrance of a young girl, strange things are naturally... impossible not to do!

With a soft, fragrant body in his arms, nervously clutching the hem of his clothes, it was hard for him to resist. His hands unconsciously reached for the collar of his clothes.

But it was also in the room, filled with a subtle and ambiguous atmosphere, and sounds unsuitable for children...

The wooden door was suddenly pushed open a crack, followed by a girl's soft gasp, which shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.

..............................

To avoid accidentally attacking Zanze, and also to ensure he wouldn't do anything reckless, Ash deliberately left the door ajar, leaving it slightly ajar.

After all, there is always a difference between enclosed and open spaces, which makes people hesitant... That's how it should be.

Unfortunately... he overestimated his limits, and even in a semi-open space, he didn't forget to bully Zanze.

Derodile, as if seeing her own doom, turned deathly pale the moment she inadvertently glimpsed what was happening inside the room.

She desperately wanted to escape, to pretend she hadn't noticed anything, but because she was blocking the way, her own prime minister, who was unaware of the truth, pushed her from behind, causing her to unconsciously let out a small gasp and push open the door.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Dragon Queen's Trembling Heartbeat and Zanze's Confession

Ash, who was happily enjoying the sweet scent of Zanze in his arms and even unconsciously playing the role of someone who doesn't follow the rules, was startled by the sudden intrusion.

But for some reason, the moment he looked over, Derodile seemed much more flustered than he was, which amplified his displeasure.

After all, she was being affectionate with her own child, and this guy had such a strange expression? It's not like she stole her little girl, so why was he getting so worked up? Shouldn't she be the one getting excited? Her good time was ruined! She could definitely demand compensation for this, right?

However... Derodile's ideas were very different from his.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." The worst situation was confirmed by the facts in front of her. Derodile, who had been hoping that this famous and great man would be normal, swallowed hard, gave up her illusions, and tried to calm herself down, showing an awkward smile: "Um... I, should I come back later?"

"No...it's okay." Since things had already come to this point, there was no way to continue. Ash could only force a smile in front of the child, suppressing his displeasure: "You might have misunderstood me a little. Come in and talk."

"No, no, it's really not very convenient, isn't it?"

Hearing those overly casual words, Derodion couldn't help but think of many strange things. For a moment, she dared not approach, fearing that she would be captured and used as a substitute, or even end up with three people traveling together.

Ash gently put Zanze down from his arms.

Zanze silently walked to the side, tidying his hair. The blush on his face had not yet faded. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Derodile and Ash.

Ash remained expressionless as his business was interrupted, sitting next to the paddle: "There's nothing inconvenient about it, come on over."

His words made Derodyon's face turn ashen. She secretly glanced at Zanze, then looked at Ash, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I... I really didn't mean to disturb you just now, I really didn't know..."

As she spoke, she quietly took another step back, looking for a chance to escape.

Her prime minister, though he hadn't seen what had just happened, noticed Zanze's embarrassed expression and, based on his own emperor's condition, could roughly guess what had happened inside. So, he silently reached out and pushed her from behind.

"--well!?"

Derodile stumbled and almost fell.

In that moment of bewildered reflection, he saw his loyal prime minister calmly closing the door to the guest room.

The prime minister's cold smile peeked through the crack in the door made it impossible for her to see the emotions beneath it, but... the way he looked at her was like looking at luncheon meat about to be eaten.

This traitor!! He actually betrayed his monarch for the benefit of the country?! He only talked before! Now he's actually done it?! If I could go back! This time I would definitely throw this guy into prison!! And send his whole family to serve as orcs!! —Drodile's face was twitching uncontrollably, her eyes filled with disbelief and despair at being betrayed.

But soon, thinking of her people who might soon become orc excrement, she temporarily put aside her dissatisfaction with her "loyal" subjects and tried to force a smile back at Ash.

"Actually, I...I'm here to discuss business, about fighting against the Orc Kingdom, although it seems I've come at an inopportune time..."

"How could that be? You've come at just the right time, and you don't need to stand so far away. Come on over here!"

"Okay, okay... Ash... brother..."

Thinking of the prime minister's previous description, she unconsciously covered her buttocks, trying hard to force a smile, her whole body exuding a tragic atmosphere as if she were about to be executed... and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide it.

This amused Ash considerably, and his previous dissatisfaction lessened considerably. He unconsciously patted his thigh with a smile, urging them on:

"Please don't be shy, have a seat."

"Huh? W-why is it...."

"Didn't you want to be my sister? In my hometown, sisters are all like that."

"Is that so? That's my honor!"

Derodile forced a smile and walked forward, trying her best to keep her smile from crumbling. Her hands trembled as she carefully supported herself before cautiously sitting on his lap.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!! This is really bad!! Is my butt going to suffer? Is today going to be terrible? What should I do? What should I do?! — She was so anxious that she almost cried, and her butt tightened involuntarily.